The benefits of a carbon tax must also be considered

A recent letter attempted to argue that Washington voters should reject any proposed carbon tax. The argument, however, depends on ignoring the basics of science, economics, and history.

First, it confuses emissions from volcanoes (part of the natural carbon cycle) from the emissions we are most concerned with, human carbon emissions. This carbon had been locked up for several hundred million years and is leading to the increased concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere with the commensurate rise in global average temperature.

It also indicates that because plants use carbon dioxide that it cannot possibly be injurious to other life, including humans. The fact that a substance may be beneficial in some concentration does not mean it cannot also be harmful in others.

The letter claims that any attempt by Washington state to limit our CO2 emissions would be pointless. This is short-sighted and ignores the many other states (not to mention most of the world) that are working to reduce their emissions. Doing so not only would benefit our environment and human health, but also our economy.

Third, we have used taxes of this sort to limit or eliminate other harmful substances, like lead from gasoline, sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants, or CFCs through the Montreal Protocol. Not only is is possible to reduce harmful substances in our environment, it has been done, and successfully.

Whenever naysayers sow doubt about any attempt to alter human activity in a way that would reduce or eliminate a behavior, they always cite the costs that would ensue. They almost never include the other side of the equation: the benefits. You should ask yourself why.

Cameron Peters, Poulsbo

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